Improvement in couplings for



'J. H. WESTON.

COUPLINGS FOR APPLYING WEATHER-VANE PQINT-ERS TO LIGHTNING-RODS, m.

Patented Dec. 12, 1876.

No.185,Z7Z.

I Iii lillli l'lll THE GRAPHIC C(LNM UNITED JAMES H. WESTON, OFCINCINNATI, OHIO.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 85,272, datedDecember 12, 1876; application filed November 6, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs H. WESTON of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Ooupling'for Applying Pointers toLightning-Rods and other terminals, of which the following is aspecification:

. The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficientcoupling wherewith the indicators that designate the four cardinalpoints of the compass maybe secured to a lightning-rod in a few minuteswithout employing any solder or using any complicated device forattaching said couplin g; Said coupling consists, essentially, of a tubeor cylinder, having at its lower end an annular ledge or shoulder thatsupports a thimble provided with four vertical or longitudinal slotsdisposed at right angles with reference to each other. These slotsreceive the shanks of the arrows or other appropriate devices employedfor indicating the four cardinal points of the compass; and said shanksare provided at their inner ends with segmental wings that occupy theannular space between the cylinder and the thimble. This slottedthimble, being made of comparatively thin metal, is slightly elastic,and, as soon as a ferrule is driven down around the upper end of thesame, said thimble is compressed, thereby clamping the wings so tightlybetween the thimble and cylinder as to effectually prevent any rotationof the pointers around the cylinder, which latter device is secured tothe lightning-rod or other support by means of a set-screw or itsequivalent device.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved pointer-coupling appliedto a lightning-rod, the tube or cylinder of said coupling being shown inelevation. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the coupling at theline 2 2, Fig. 1, the device being shown detached from the rod'. Fig. 3is an axial section of the cylinder, thimble, and ferrule separated fromeach other; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the innerendof one of the pointers.

A represents a lightning-rod or other terminal or supporting member, andB represents a cylinder or tube that is secured to said rod with aset-screw, G, or its equivalent device. This cylinder is furnished withan annular ledge or shoulder, 1), upon which is seated a thimble, D,having four vertical or longitudinal slots, d, that are situated atright angles with reference to each other. These slots are open at topand closed at bottom, as more clearly seen in Fig. 3. Adapted to fitsnugly on the upper end of this slotted thimble is a tapering band,ring, or ferrule, E, although this ferrule may be omitted and itsfunction be performed by means of a coil of wire wrapped tightly aroundthe upper portion of said thimble.

The indicators that designate the four cardinal points of the compassmay have the customary arrow shape, as shown at F, or said pointers maybe of any other appropriate form.

The inner end of each pointer has a flat shank, Gr, terminating with acurved wing, g. Secured to this shank with rivet f, or otherwise, isanother fiat shank, H, having a curved wing, h, extending in an oppositedirection to the one 9. The shanks G H are adapted to enter the verticalslots d of the thimble, while the wings of the various shanks occupy theannular space I between said thimble and the cylinder 13, as moreclearly shown in Fig. 2. To fit the device together the thimble D isfirst placed upon the tube B and supported on shoulder b, after whichthe various pointers F are applied to said thimble by simply insertingtheir shanks G H in the appropriate slots 61 of the thimble, the wings gh of the pointers being housed within the annular recess I between thethimble and tube. The ferrule E is now driven down firmly around theupper portion of thimble D, thereby compressing the latter and clampingthe wings so firmly in position as to effectually prevent any rotationof the pointers F around the cylinder B. The latter is then suitablyattached to the rod A with set-screw O, and the coupling is at onceimmovably secured in its proper position.

It will be seen that no solder is employed I with my coupling; neitherare there any screw-joints to be engaged with each other, and, as thecomponent parts are light and easily handled, the entire device may befitted together on a church-spire or other elevated structure with theutmost ease and certainty.

A modification of my invention may be made by dispensing with thesupplementary shank H h and splitting the shank G horizontally, so as toform two wings, which can be bent in opposite directions.

I claimas my invention- 1. The supporting-cylinder B bandvertically-slotted thimble D d, having an annular space, 1, between themfor the reception of the wings of pointers F, whose shanks traverse saidslots 01, and are secured in position with the ferrule E, oritsequivalent device, substantially as herein described and set forth.

2. The pointers F, having shanks G Hsecured together with rivets f, andprovided at their inner ends with oppositely-projecting Wings 9 and h,substantially as herein described and set forth.

JAMES H. WESTON. Attest:

EDWARD A. FAY, C. WALTON, Jr.

